• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • No Man Walks Alone one of our oldest sponsors owned and operated by one of the most discerning buyers I know, is right now offering up to 50% off on their winter sale. Browse their extensive selection of mesnwear, shoes and accessories, and get something truly special, like this special collaboration Western style shirt by G. Inglese in a rich, thick, and luxe brown cotton moleskin, with subtly contasting yellow snaps

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

“Dressing Up” Jeans

keeno

Active Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2015
Messages
26
Reaction score
3
Hello everyone. I was hoping to get some advice on dressing up jeans. There are times when I feel the urge/need to dress up jeans a bit more. I always wear them with a polo or a sports shirt and pair of Clark’s or flip flops. I feel like I am wearing the same thing all the time and I want to branch out a little more and see if I can find something to elevate the jeans look a little bit when necessary.
The thing is, I consider jeans to be casual clothes, so I feel like there are some limits to how dressy they can be. I’m not trying to wear a tie with them or anything, but I am curious if dress shirts like oxfords or pinpoints are okay. Can I get away with a spread collar?
In terms of shoes, I really like the idea of suede loafers for some reason. I love the Carmina shoelace loafers. I just feel like some loafers look a little off with jeans, particularly if they have a real sleek toe. Guess I am just looking for advice if those will work. I also like the idea of an Alden suede PTB.
In terms of blazers/sport jackets, I would love some advice here. Any material/fabric or color choices that you would recommend?
At any rate, just looking for some thoughts and advice to see if I am on the right track or just over-thinking this. Thanks in advance
 

ter1413

Stylish Dinosaur
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
22,101
Reaction score
6,040

johng70

Distinguished Member
Joined
May 13, 2013
Messages
1,118
Reaction score
1,361
Absolutely you can dress up jeans. How much depends on the jeans. Darker denim without flashy pocket adornment is going to work better. I routinely wear jeans with button down shirts, occasionally with blazer or sportcoat. And, you might want to look at some new footwear to help dress things up. I'm not a huge fan of suede loafers. There are a whole slew of boots that work great, but some simple derby shoes work great. One of my favorite shoes are a pair of natural CXL derbies from Rancourt & Co. But, Alden Indy boots really look great and dress up nicely. AE has a number of different boot styles (I really like their Higgins Mill boots for more casual or Dalton for a bitty dressier). Keep in mind, you want to coordinate shoe color with belt color just as you would with non jeans.

I will say though, if you roll your jeans up, that's definitely a more casual look. So, you want to be sure your jean inseam is proper just as if they were dress pants.
 

cellphoneguy81

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2014
Messages
145
Reaction score
68
Jeans with flip flops is a no-no, especially of you are past 22. In fact, flip flops are for the beach.

Suede loafers can be ok, as well as leather, depends on how dressy you are trying to go. I second the above post mentioning boots.

I almost always have a sport coat in during the day and you can choose many different materials with denim, just make sure it’s seasonally appropriate.

Ensuring they are dark and slim is the best advice I can give you.

Good luck.
 

angryjeans

Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2018
Messages
24
Reaction score
39
I have a high level job and wear jeans and button up shirts to work daily. The trick is the jeans and shirts have to fit just right. I filled my closet with cloths from Todd Shelton because they have dialed my fit in perfect and everything I buy fits spot on. Never thought I would get so many positive comments wearing something so simple. https://toddshelton.com/
 

ValidusLA

Distinguished Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2019
Messages
4,179
Reaction score
6,165
I routinely dress up jeans with a sport coat and almost exclusivly wear them with button down shirts. Occasionally I get cheeky and wear tie. But I live in Los Angeles where such things can be excused.

The key is tapered (not skinny) dark denim like a Diesel Buster.
 

Featured Sponsor

How do you prefer trousers to be finished?

  • Plain hem

  • Cuffed (1.5 inches or less)

  • Cuffed (more than 1.5 inches)

  • No preference, as long as the proportions work


Results are only viewable after voting.

Forum statistics

Threads
523,011
Messages
10,746,032
Members
229,722
Latest member
mariamsmith
Top